The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-16
WARFARE OF THE KNIGHTS
A Heated Discussion Over the Proposed
Changes in the Executive Board.
Barry Delivers Vehement Speech. and the
Lie Is Freely Passed-Readable Revela-
lions as to the Orders Inside Working.
InI,rnar

| MINNEAPoLIs, Mimi, Oct. 1o-For nearly ter
hours, to-day. barring a brief intermission fol
lunch, the General Assembly of the knights oil
Labor was in the most of all its conclavss
AN executive session. The subject under con
sideration was the proposition introduced last
night. nominaliy under the auspices of the com.
mittee on laws, but in reality en-
anatlng from PHILADELPHIA as
semoiy in close sympathy with
the administration, and which not only reduces
the membership of the executive board from six
to four. but confers upon the general master
workman the power of debating the member
| ship OF that body. The friends of T. B. Barry,
the Michigan legislator. and Bailey, the Ohio
| miners champion, saw in this proposition an at
tack upon their leaders and resolved to fight it
to the bitter end. The result was that the pro-
ceedings OF the day were the most sensational
and noisy that have ever transpred in
any previous session of the General Assembly
| since the order was brought into
existence. The anti ad inistration men started
| Off the fight to-day by renewing the charge that
| the proposition was aimed at the two "Bs," and
delegate A. NJ. Dewey, of Detroit, was called
upon to explain the report that he had said GER
tain things derogatory TO those gentlemen, both
IN Chicago and in this city In response, Mr..
Dewey said that, without men .ioning names, he
best interests of the order for two members of
the executive board to retire at once
Mr.. Barry flung the lie into Deweys teeth by
stating that he had named him Barry as one
of the two From this time on the debate
waxed hot and furious At last Barry obtained
the floor and made a. vehement defense He
said that it was sought to clown" him because
be- from the time that he had entered the ex-
ecutive board. had set his face against the fnan-
cal Encouragement, something akin to hood
lerism which prevailed at headquarters. Then
ne went on to give details. He said that cor
tain master workman of New York, naming
Thomas O'Reilly, who bad been appointed an
organizer, had brought only FIVE m bes into
existence during the year, while he permitted
the previous membership to fall away, had
been paid $3.50 without authority, and that
fowderly had promised that the money should
be refunded.
Mr. Powderly, nterrupting. said that he had
made the motion to refund the money himself
Resuming, Mr.. Barry said that this was a vir-
tual admission that he considered it illegal. He
charged that General Secretary Ltchman had
discharged clerks In the Office without notice or
reason, in spite of mis- (Barrys) demand that no
person should be discharged except for cause
Then, there was the case of Miss Ryan, who
was employed in the Office, in spite of the fact
that she refused to affiliate with the order on
the ground that "the women of the order were
not proper associates for her." Continuing he
charged that the general executive board had
employed a lady telegrapher in the Office who
was not member of the order, on the ground
That That she had given valuable in
formation during the Southwestern strike The
present stenographer, he said, not men,
Der until he and Bailey protested, whereupon
she was proposed, ballotted for and was
elected the same night by Litchman, O'Reilly
and Hayes, despite the fact that the constitution
said that no person should be balloted for and
initiated the same night. He then attacked the
general executive board for bringing female
employees to the city and boarding them at the
leading hotel of the city at a considerable out
In and ra1 nAS1
rapher of the board. detailing alleged trickery
resorted to by several of its mem ers and en-
ployes to work up sentiment against himself
and Bailey. Hayes has Conc around the country |
charging that | am Aan narchist," said the ex-
cited speaker.
II have said so only once. and that in meet
ing of the board" shouted Hayes; NOW say so |
again." 1T is a lie," responded Barry; 81 am as
loyal a son OF this Republic any man upon |
this hoor No man can call me an Anarchist |
on the outside"
Resumng, he said that in the face Of the fall
Ing OF In membership the expenses of the |
general Offices had doubled during the mast
year, while only half the work of the previous
one had been done Barry went on in this
strain at length, and at one stage advancing to
the table he shook his fist and exclaimed to
Powderly, Presently, when you get into a
sentimental mood, you will stand up here with
the tears IN your eyes and offer your resigna-
ton. Don't go too far. I you that this
assembly is In no mood to entertain the one-man
idea 1t wants no king. and it will have none"
This was greeted with applause and hsses
having declared that ne and Bailey would have
to CO. and the delegate, rising to his feet. de-
MED it.
'.You did! You did! You said 1t to rs!n yelled
a half dozen delegates in chorus.
After Barry had concluded, Hayes took the
floor and made a long speech in self defense.
he SAID that he had broken up his business by
his devotion to the order, and had gone to Pow
1erly and given in his resignation. MIR. Pow
1eFly SAID" continued Hayes, :" If You 60 will
20, too. Good God l replied If you and [
would 60, what would become of the orderp"
This was greeted with roars of laughter on
he part of the anti Observation-Disclosures
Resuming, he explained the charge that he
had boarded his family at hotel in Phladel-
,hla az the expense of the order. saying that he
lid so in order that himself and Powderiy might
emain on the board and save the organization.
Several delegates asked him if he had not spent
considerable portion of his time in political
work in New Jersey. He replied in the afirma.
i've, and said that but for the traitor like work
It the Labor member from Paterson he would
ave dictated the United States Senator. Another
delegate asked him if he had gone with So 900
o Maine to defeat Reed for Congress
Yes" was the reply; II went there for that
purpose. ana now ! will say more 1t is T. B i
lcGu1re. and not John Jarrett, that defeated
lorrison In Illinois. Morrison said 'd-n the
icht-hour law and the expression lost him his
eat
The discussion ran along in this vain fo-
ours, nearly every delegate and member of the |
xecutive board having something to say. At
INES the uproar was deafenng. General Sec
etary Litchman defended the administration of
ID office at length. and several delegates
hareed that the general administration was
oney combed with Encouragement
When dusk approached there were loud calls
Or a vote. and it was claimed that the admins
ration was STAYING off expression of opinion
ecause it knew that several delegates were
ompelled to leave on the night trains. Finally,
owever, the debate was adjourned until Mon
ay and the tired and perspiring delegates filed
rom the nall.
paper was put in circulation this evening"
nd 1t is claimed. has received the signatures OF
hirty delegates. which pledges the sieners, in
vent of the administration carrying the day.
attend conference to be called
,me time next month. This is
to presage split IN
,e order. Mr.. Powderly denied. in tho course
the days proceedings, that he had stated that
is resignation prepared, and was met by
louts of Your friends saying it for YOU
nd otis being used as a club The oninion in